Summer movie preview: Brace for more superheroes, monsters, laughs and more over the next few months

Andrew Garfield is back in costume for "The Amazing Spider-Man 2," starting off the summer season May 2.

Hope you haven’t had your fill of superheroes from the pages of Marvel comic books.

In November, the movie-making machine that is Marvel Studios released “Thor: The Dark World,” following that up recently with the monster hit “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”

Next, Columbia Pictures will unleash “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” followed almost immediately by 20th Century Fox’s “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” And, not wanting to be completely left out of the big summer party, Marvel Studios will be back with “Guardians of the Galaxy” before the Northeast Ohio air begins to turn chilly.

The summer will bring more big-budget thrills, of course, from yet another “Transformers” movie to another re-imaging on “Godzilla” to another go at a science-fiction epic from the creators “The Matrix.”

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There will also be plenty of comedies, a few dramas and animated adventures before August has come and gone. Let’s take a look at just some of what’s coming to theaters in The Summer of Future Present:

GO BIG OR GO HOME

It all starts, as summer often does, with the Web Head, in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” (May 2). We debated whether the Spidey franchise had to be rebooted after three Sam Raimi-directed films starring Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, but 2012’s Marc Webb-directed “The Amazing Spider-Man,” with Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone in the lead roles, was at least solid. This revamped big-screen saga is more mythology-heavy than the last, so expect Peter Parker/Spiderman (Garfield) to continue to investigate the ties between Oscorp and his late father, and in the process he’ll run afoul of three villains: Electro (Jamie Foxx), The Rhyno (Paul Giamatti) and the Green Goblin (Dane DeHaan). It’s a good bet, too, that love interest Gwen Stacy (Stone) will find herself in some sort of danger.

It’s time to be excited about an “X-Men” movie again with “X-Men: Days of Future Past” (May 23). The time-bending adventure not only blends characters from the early, high-quality Bryan Singer-directed “X-Men” films with the younger versions of some of those characters introduced in Matthew Vaughn’s admirable 2011 prequel, “X-Men: First Class,” it also marks the return of Singer to the director’s chair. Singer is helming a complex beast with a budget well north of $200 million that will see Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) travel back in time to recruit a young Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender) to help their older counterparts (Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, respectively) defeat the robotic Sentinels. We’ll also encounter Storm (Halle Berry), Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), Rogue (Anna Paquin), Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page) and many others. We’ll have to see if recent allegations of sexual abuse against Singer will mean much trouble for the franchise, which already has set a date of May 27, 2016, for “X-Men: Apocalypse.” Singer was expected to direct before the allegations surfaced.

We’ll close the book on Marvel with the lighter side of its universe. “Guardians of the Galaxy” (Aug. 1) looks to be as much comedy as adventure, with Chris Pratt (“Parks and Recreation,” “Zero Dark Thirty”) leading the way as Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord (although only he seems to call himself that). We’ll also see Zoe Saldana as Gamora and hear the voices of Bradley Cooper, as Rocket Raccoon, and Vin Diesel, as Groot. It’s hard to believe this fits into the same universe as The Avengers, but there was a teaser for Benicio Del Toro’s character, The Collector, after the credits of “Thor: The Dark World.”

Somehow the good giant, shape-shifting robots will save the world from the bad giant, shape-shifting robots without the help of Shia LaBeouf’s Sam Witwicky in “Transformers: Age of Extinction” (June 27). Instead, Autobot leader Optimus Prime (again voiced by Peter Cullen) will have the help of Mark Wahlberg’s Cade Yeager and the Dinobots to take on the Decepticons, now led by Galvatron. Like the previous three movies, this one is directed by Michael Bay and undoubtedly will be another huge hit.

Speaking of Bay, he has his hands in another franchise based on toys and cartoons for kids this summer. Bay’s production company has a major hand in the reboot of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (Aug. 8). Directed by Jonathan Liebesman (“Wrath of the Titans”), “TMNT” will feature the voices of Johnny Knoxville and Tony Shalhoub, as well as all of Megan Fox.

Maybe Tom Cruise really liked the taste of big-budget sci-fi he got from doing last year’s “Oblivion.” In “Edge of Tomorrow” (June 6), he portrays a military officer fighting an alien invasion. The catch? He’s got a sort-of “Groundhog Day” thing going on, dying repeatedly and coming back to life to try again from the top of the battle. He is able to increase his skills through these repeated attempts, and he has the help of another human warrior played by Emily Blunt. The movie, based on a Japanese novel, is directed by the very capable Doug Liman (“The Bourne Identity,” “Fair Game”). If you’ve dreamt of watching Cruise die again and again, this is the movie for you.

Maybe we’re in a nice spot with Wachowski siblings, Lana and Andy, directors of “The Matrix” trilogy. Like the second two films in that series, their “Speed Racer” and “Cloud Atlas” had their various good and bad points, so we no longer expect something as good as “The Matrix,” released an astounding 15 years ago. They return with more science fiction with “Jupiter Ascending” (July 18), which also was written by them. Mila Kunis is Jupiter Jones, a poor janitor who is meant for bigger things. Helping her reach her genetic and galactic potential and take on evil forces is a genetically engineered ex-military hunter played by Channing Tatum.

It will be tough not to expect good things from “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” (July 18), based on the quality of its predecessor, 2011’s “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.” But, aside from Andy Serkis again being the basis for chimpanzee leader Caesar, the cast is new, as is the director, Matt Reeves (“Cloverfield,” “Let Me In”). Gary Oldman, Jason Clarke (“Zero Dark Thirty”) and Keri Russell (“The Americans”) play human survivors during a time of war with the apes.

Hollywood already tried to give us a contemporary “Godzilla” in the late 1990s, but the Roland Emmerich-directed movie wasn’t loved by audiences or critics. So they’ll try to get it right with the latest “Godzilla” (May 16). According to Entertainment Weekly, director Gareth Edwards (“Monsters”) felt it was important to have a very serious tone — probably a good call when you think about a giant creature wreaking havoc on a city. Edwards’ greatest weapon may be “Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston, who portrays a nuclear physicist. The movie also boasts the talented Aaron Taylor-Johnson (“Kick-Ass,” “Savages”). Go go Godzilla? Maybe this time.

Aiming to do what “Wicked” has done for the Wicked Witch of the West — turn her into a hero — is what Disney’s “Maleficent” (May 30) looks to do for the sinister woman from “Sleeping Beauty.” Angelina Jolie stars in the titular role, bringing another side to the woman with the black horns on her head. Elle Fanning (“Super 8”) portrays Princess Aurora, while Sharlto Copley (“District 9”) is her royal father, who betrays Maleficent. Robert Stromberg, whose experience is in visual effects, is making his directorial debut.

The biggest, boldest, bawdiest comedy of the summer — this year’s “This Is the End” — sure looks to be “A Million Ways to Die in the West” (May 30). Directed, co-written and starring Seth MacFarlane of “Family Guy” fame, it is his first live-action film since the fairly funny “Ted” in 2012. MacFarlane plays a cowardly sheep farmer who meets a beautiful woman (Charlize Theron) and soon runs afoul of her hubby, a dangerous criminal played by Liam Neeson. The movie also boasts Amanda Seyfried, Neil Patrick Harris, Christopher Plummer and Sarah Silverman. If you’re, um, “mature” enough for such language, seek out the movie’s red band trailer. It’s hilarious.

The summer’s big musical? “Jersey Boys” (June 20). The touring stage production always packs the house at Cleveland’s PlayhouseSquare, and it will again during its run from May 6 through 18 at the State Theatre. The film version of the jukebox musical that tells the tale of The Four Seasons — grounded largely in the friendship and musical partnership between Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio — is directed by Clint Eastwood. Jason Lloyd Young, who portrays Valli, won the Tony Ward for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for playing the role in the Broadway production.

THE BEST OF THE REST

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore team up for a third-time in “Blended” (May 23), playing single parents who, after going on a terrible blind date, coincidentally find their families sharing a suite at a luxurious African safari resort.

It’s hard to believe, but the next young-adult phenomenon may not have a foot in the fantasy word or be set in a dystopian future. Like the recent “Divergent,” though, “The Fault in Our Stars” (June 6) stars Shailene Woodley. She and Andsel Elgort, who played Caleb in “Divergent,” are teens who meet in a cancer support group — she has a terminal diagnosis — and find they have much in common. The movie is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by John Green.

It’s another adventure for Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) and his winged friend Toothless in “How to Train Your Dragon 2” (June 13), when the peace between the vikings and dragons is threatened five years following the events of the first animated tale. Other returning voice actors include Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Craig Ferguson and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

Melissa McCarthy (“The Heat”) plays a woman down on her luck and out of cash in “Tammy” (July 2). She turns to her grandmother (Susan Sarandon), who has wheels, dough and a strong desire to see Niagara Falls. Let the road-trip hijinks begin in the comedy, which also features Allison Janney, Gary Cole, Dan Aykroyd and Kathy Bates.

It goes with experience when it comes to the romantic comedy “And So It Goes” (July 11). Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton star for director Rob Reiner. If the movie’s no good, it won’t be because those folks don’t know what they’re doing.

It’s hard to believe Zach Braff hasn’t directed a film since 2004’s well-regarded “Garden State.” It’s also hard to believe Braff had to go the Kickstarter route to raise some of the money to make “Wish I Was Here” (July 25). Braff portrays a man in his mid-30s looking for meaning in his life. The cast also includes Kate Hudson, Mandy Patinkin and Josh Gad.

In “Sex Tape” (July 25), you can imagine where the story will go when characters played by Jason Segel (“How I Met Your Mother”) and Cameron Diaz make a, well, you know. The Jake Kasdan-directed comedy also features Rob Corddry, Ellie Kemper and Rob Lowe.

Here’s hoping “Get on Up” (Aug. 1), a biographical drama about legendary singer James Brown, hits all the right notes and has some serious soul. The man playing the Godfather of Soul is Chad Boseman, who’s already portrayed another real-life figure, Jackie Robinson, in “42.” The movie is directed by Tate Taylor, who did a nice job with 2011 hit “The Help.”

The title of “Into the Storm” (Aug. 8) should be taken quite literally. Richard Armitage — Thorin in “The Hobbit” films — stars in a tale of professionals and amateurs chasing a great shot during a day when a series of tornadoes ravages a town. Not surprisingly, the movie’s director, Steven Quale, has a background in visual effects.

Get ready for the high school football season with “When the Game Stands Tall” (Aug. 22), based on the story of a team in California that had the longest-ever winning streak. They were truly tested when it was over. Jim Caviezel portrays the coach, Laura Dern his wife, and Michael Chiklis is an assistant coach. The movie, directed by Thomas Carter (“Save the Last Dance”) is adapted from the book of the same name by Neil Hayes.

About the Author

Mark is a lifelong Northeast Ohioan and an Ohio University grad. Along with loving music, movies and television, he is crazy about sports and tech. Reach the author at mmeszoros@news-herald.com
or follow Mark on Twitter: @MarkMeszoros.